Our heroes spent so long saving Hyrule only to plunge it into turmoil a second time, and their relationship will soon be tested through tough decisions and sacrifices we are yet to see unfold. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and the limbs forced to adopt ancient powers to overcome unknown evil. The hopeful melancholy this land boasted in previous years has been torn away, replaced by an intense apocalyptic veneer that it will likely be our duty to wipe away. Zelda is a damsel in distress no more, and Link is no longer an untouchable hero who can hold the entire world on his shoulders. Tears of the Kingdom must confront these changing circumstances, and judging from everything we’ve seen, it likely will.

This tattoo of the Fairy Queen from The Wind Waker has to be the most wholesome Zelda tattoo. The Fairy Queen with her child-like, yet almost alien design, is an unfortunately overlooked character in the Zelda series, but this tattoo does justice to both her power and her adorable appearance. The bright sky-blue of one of the best Legend of Zelda Great Fairies works well against the brownish-pink tones of the skin, and also allows the primary colors of the Goddess Pearls to still be clear in the design (by @gamexcoreink on Tumb

Midna's true form, revealed in Twilight Princess doesn't appear here, instead, her impish design has been honored. As Midna appears to have tattoos herself, making her the perfect subject for a tattoo. The digital Twilight Realm markings on her body are rigid, turning at right angles. Contrasting this with her natural curves and flowing hair makes for a fantastic design. Additionally, the colors stay true to the original game, captured with impeccable det

Another common motif in the Zelda tattoo community is Link’s wolf form from Twilight Princess . This isn’t so surprising, given that wolf tattoos are popular in general. The flowing mane of Link’s wolf form is also perfectly suited to showing off beautiful line work by the tattoo artist, and the darker palette of Twilight Princess itself justifies a black-and-white tat

Inspired by the landscapes of the South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia, __ Tchia offers a lush open-world adventure similar to the one found in BOTW and its sequel TOTK - but it takes inspiration from other Zelda games as well. As Tchia, players will brave dark caves, solve puzzles, climb rocky cliffs, and glide above the treetops. In a Wind Waker -like twist, however, Tchia can also play the ukulele to cast musical spells, and sail her raft between the archipelago's islands. Her ukulele is also fully playable; players can learn actual songs or simply jam

As far as damage goes, the Hookshot isn't the best choice for a weapon unless a player is fighting very small enemies that can be killed with one hit. Rather, it provides utility for players both in and out of combat. The design of 3D Zelda games have made the Hookshot an iconic tool and weapon hybrid to the point that it might feel strange if it didn't appear in Tears of the Kingd

Combining simple black icons with vivid bursts of color can also be a recipe for success. This Breath of the Wild tattoo captures the symbols for the four Champion’s Abilities that Link gains upon defeating the Divine Beasts. The smoky effect of the color splashes gives a mystical vibe and ties the entire tattoo into one, cohesive work of art rather than four distinct tattoos. The forearm position also allows for a great long canvas on which to display this particular tattoo (by @apothecaryjuices on Tumb

It could be safely said that the Master Sword is the single most iconic weapon in The Legend of Zelda , and acquiring it is often an important milestone in Link's journey. The Master Sword in its original form was created by the Goddess Hylia so that her chosen hero could complete its creation and make it into a sword that repels evil. As an added bonus, the Master Sword in Breath of the Wild doesn't have weapon durability , making it the only weapon that doesn't need to be repaired. A broken form of the sword is shown in TOTK trailers, but a full, repaired version of the Master Sword is a must-have for any Zelda Hyrule Restoration g

Admittedly, this one feels a bit like cheating. Still, the Master Sword is the iconic primary weapon of the Zelda series. It's already an absolute powerhouse of a weapon in Breath of the Wild, especially after being fully powered up, but Tears of the Kingdom's new systems open up a world of possibilit

My key takeaway is the bravery Nintendo has shown when it comes to expanding upon Breath of the Wild with a sequel that not only takes place in the same world, but questions its history and the characters within it we’ve already come to know and love. No longer confined by tragic flashbacks and environmental storytelling, Link and Zelda now occupy the present day and will make choices lined with immense and immediate consequences. We are set to learn so much about them and likely come to view them as different people by the time it’s all over. Not just in this game, but how these two iconic characters have been portrayed throughout history.